UK CMOs publish first activity guidelines for disabled children

The guidelines are underpinned by research from Durham University, University of Bristol and Disability Rights UK and the infographic they are presented in is the first of its kind to be co-produced with disabled children, young people and their families. 

The new guidelines recommend disabled children and young people:

• Undertake 120 to 180 minutes of aerobic physical activity per week at a moderate-to-vigorous intensity. This can be achieved in different ways (e.g. 20 minutes per day or 40 minutes 3 times per week). For example, walking or cycling. 
• Complete challenging, but manageable, strength and balance activities 3 times per week which are particularly beneficial for muscle strength and motor skills. For example, indoor wall climbing, yoga, and modified sports such as basketball or football.
• When first starting to exercise, build up slowly to avoid injury
• Break down their exercise into bite size chunks of physical activity throughout the day to make it more manageable 

The UK Chief Medical Officers, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Professor Sir Michael McBride, Professor Sir Gregor Smith and Sir Frank Atherton, said:  

“We are delighted to present this report and infographic which are an important step forward in addressing the gap in physical activity guidelines for disabled children and disabled young people. We encourage schools, parents, carers and healthcare professionals to communicate and promote these guidelines across their wider professional networks to enable appropriate physical activity opportunities for disabled children and disabled young people in their communities.”

Regular physical activity has physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages. However, children and young people with disabilities are less likely to be active than non-disabled children, which can lead to health disparities, which can widen as they become older.

The evidence found physical activity can be equally beneficial for disabled children and young people as non-disabled children, tackling misinformation about the risk. Ensuring children and young people, regardless of their disability status, are as physically active as possible is crucial to their health and wellbeing - both now and in the long-term. 

Specific benefits that disabled children and young people can gain from physical activity include improved confidence and concentration, meeting new people and stronger muscles and improved motor strength. 

Professor Brett Smith, Director of Research, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham University, said:

“The UK Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines for disabled children and disabled young people are a UK first. The scientific evidence is clear that physical activity is safe and has multiple health benefits for disabled children and disabled young people. The infographic, that has been co-produced with over 250 disabled children and disabled young people, their parents and carers, aims to communicate these guidelines in an accessible and meaningful way. Together, the guidelines and infographic are a vital stepping stone to improving the health and wellbeing of disabled children and disabled young people.”

Dr Charlie Foster, Professor of Physical Activity and Public Health at the University of Bristol, said:  

“This process has shown me that public health messages will have more impact if they are co-created in genuine partnership with their target audience and users. This is a vital lesson for all those tasked with tackling current public health challenges as our existing resources are not as relevant and may not speak to or for certain groups.  

“I'm most delighted that this infographic and the evidence review are accessible for all users and again this is another lesson learnt for our public health communities. My thanks to all those children, young people, careers and parents for making sure that this infographic speaks with and for them. 

“I look forward to taking this process into future development of public health resources and messages and see the impact of this work making physical activity more inclusive.”

This guidance will support wider work by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to get more children and young people physically active and tackle health inequalities. Work already underway includes OHID working with stakeholders to update the National Physical Activity Framework and enable national and local action to support everyone to be more active.

Barry Horne MBE, Chief Executive for Activity Alliance, said:

“We welcome the Chief Medical Officers’ first guidelines on physical activity for disabled children and young people. To have specific advice around being active is a huge step forward as all children deserve the right to be active. We know that physical activity has significant benefits for physical, mental and social health and it is important that this new advice is taken on board.

“It is therefore absolutely imperative that all opportunities are welcoming, appealing and accessible so no child feels forgotten or misses out. The people working in these environments must be aware and skilled in knowing how to genuinely include disabled children. There is no use recommending increased levels of activity if the opportunities are not there for disabled children and young people in every community. Activity Alliance will continue to work closely with organisations towards achieving fairness for disabled adults and children in sport and activity. Our expertise, programmes and resources continue to give huge levels of support to ensure every child is able to access and enjoy their experiences.”

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said:

“Physical activity is vital for everyone's health and wellbeing; Sport England is doing some fantastic work to help disabled children be active through their Teacher Training and Moving Social Work programmes, alongside partnerships with organisations like The FA, LimbPower, and Cycling Projects.

“I welcome the latest guidance from the Chief Medical Officers, and encourage parents and guardians to help disabled children and young people get active for 20 minutes a day so they can improve their fitness levels and enjoy the benefits of exercise."

Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK, said: 

“At Disability Rights UK we are really pleased to have worked with Durham University on the development of the UK Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines for disabled children and young people. 

“This is an essential resource to demonstrate the health benefits disabled children and young people can achieve through regular physical activity. Disabled people have a right to get active in ways that work for them, and these guidelines show how important this is. The evidence-based infographic is not only a highlight of the project but a positive example of co-production in practice. 

“Disabled children and young people, their parents and carers, health and social care professionals, and key disability and sports organisations have all been involved in co-producing the infographic. The final version results from their involvement and input into this project.”

• Following the report, the academics and Disability Rights UK collaborated with disabled children, disabled young people, parents, carers and other stakeholders to co-produce an infographic to convey key recommendations and messages specifically for disabled children and disabled young people.
• A methodology document which provides further information on the evidence review and how the infographic was developed is available.
• The infographic is also available in Braille. Welsh translations of the documents and infographic are being developed and will be published on GOV.UK shortly. 
• Since 2013 the Department has funded a series of grant programmes to increase and improve access to physical education, school sport and physical activity for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).